Therapeutic apparatus.



M. P. SEGEBARTH.

THERAPEUTIC APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED 1120.21, 1912.

1,071,591. Patented Aug. 26, 1913.

I COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH 1:0..WA5HLN'6TON. n. c.

ATES PAENT EFIQ.

THERAPEUTIC APPARATUS.

T 0 all 107mm it may concern Be it known that I, MAX PETER Sconnurrn, a sub ect of the German Emperor,

residing at Bad Iteichenhall, Germany, have.

invented certain new and useful Improvements in Therapeutic Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates generally to therapeutic apparatus and has more particular reference to apparatus of this type wherein patients are treated in an air chamber or compartment, the air in such chamber being either compressed or rarefied as the nature of the treatment to be given the patient may require.

The primary object of the invention is to provide means whereby any openings to such chamber, such as windows and doors, will automatically respond to the changes in pressure within the chamber, and will at all times tend to keep said chamber closed air ti ht.

In carrying the invention into practice, I1

provide doors, and windows in some cases, which press inwardly when the air within the chamber is rarefied, and press outwardly when the air within the chamber is placed under compression.

The invention may be constructed in several forms, as for example by providing double doors and windows, one sash of which may be opened outwardly and the other opened inwardly; or I may provide single doors and windows nu 'able between oppositely disposed abutnients or insulating strips; or I may provide revoluble doors and windows movable between adjustable stops or abutments. I

The form of invention employing double doors and windows has been illustratively exemplified in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a schematic plan view of an installation embodying my invention; and

Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the air chamber or compartment.

Referring to the drawing by reference characters, the numeral 10 designates, generally, a plant by means of which the air in the chamber or compartment may be compressed or rarefied. Pipes 11 lead from the plant 10 to the chamber 1". One of the walls of the chamber 7' is provided with a suitable opening 12 which provides for ingress to and egress from the chamber 1". On opposite sides of the wall containing the opening 12 Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 21, 1912.

Patented Aug. 26,1913. Serial No. 737,941.

are provided brackets 13 and 14 having the doors a and 0, respectively, pivoted thereto at the points 15. The door 0 is arranged to open inwardly in relation to the chamber 1', while the door a is arranged to open outwardly in relation to the chamber. When the air within the chamber 1" is under compression the door 0 will be tightly forced against the bracket 18 which is preferably made of a substantially air tight material. When the air within the chamber is rarefied, thus producing a partial vacuum within the chamber, the doors 1?, and 0 will be subjected to a suction action, the door 0 being opened while the door a is firmly drawn against the bracket 14 and thus tightly held in position.

The brackets 13 and 14 are preferably angular and the free edges of the doors a and 0 are preferably notched as indicated by the numeral 16 so that when the doors are subjected to either pressure 01' to suction the notched parts 16 will take over the angular portions of the brackets and thus fit snugly in position. As above indicated windows may also be provided, the construction thereof resembling generally that of the doors a and 0.

In the drawing I have shown windows 7) and g which are pivoted to opposite sides of brackets 17 and 18, respectively, by means of the pivot pins 19. The brackets 17 and 18 are angular, like the brackets 13 and 1e, and the free edge of each window is notched or undercut as at 20 so that when the windows engage the angular portions of the bracket a snug fit will result. l/Vhcn the pressure Within the chamber 1" is greater than atmospheric pressure the windows Q will be forced outwardly and firmly pressed against the bracket 18. When the air within the chamber '1- is rarefied suction will tend to open the window 9 and draw the window 29 tightly against the bracket 17.

By the foregoing arrangement I provide a structure wherein any openings in the wall thereof may be automatically closed air tight by the character of the pressure prevailing within the chamber.

While in the present specification, I have referred specifically to doors and windows, it will be obvious that the invention is applicable in any connection Where an opening in a chamber of the kind referred to is to be closed by any closure which has movement relative to such opening. I desire it to be understood, therefore, that I do not conline my invention to the details of structure hereinbefore described, and that such details have been given merely to facilitate a full understanding of the invention.

I claim:

1. Tllerapeutic apparatus embodying therein a chamber provided with an opening leading tov the interior of said chamber, movably mounted means whereby said opening may be closed, and means for moving said movably mounted means, said second named means including mechanism for broducing compression or rarelication oi? the air within said chamber.

2. .lhera )eutio apparatus embodying therein a chamber having an opening in its wall, a door pivotally mounted on the out side of one of the walls and adjacent the opening therein, a second door pivotally mounted on the inside of the opposite wall and adjacent said opening and means for varying the pressure within the chamber to selectively operate either of said doors to close said opening air tight.

3. Therapeutic apparatus embodying therein a chamber having an opening in one of its walls, a pair of doors pivotally mounted adjacent said openings and adapted to open inwardly and outwardly respectively in relation to said chamber, and means for either compressing or rarefying the air within said chamber to operate either of said doors automatieally to close the same air tight.

4-. Therapeutic apparatus embodying therein an air chamber having an opening in one of its walls, angular brackets secured opposite to each other to the walls .forming said opening, a door pivotally carried by each bracket said. doors being mounted on opposite faces of said brackets respectively, notches formed at the free edges of said doors and adapted to snugly fit over the angular portions of said brackets, and means for producing variations of pressure within said chamber whereby said doors are automatically actuated to close said chai'nber air tight.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MAX PETER SEGEBARTH.

Witnesses A. V. N. Comma, JOIIANNA STERN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained. for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). C. 

